volunteer with an indigenous community and explore Ecuador
This volunteer program based in Ecuador, offers volunteers the fantastic opportunity to volunteer with children, learn Spanish, live with a local family in the beautiful market town Otavalo, Chimborazo, Quilotoa, Cayambe experience indigenous Andean culture, travel to nearby rural mountains for project work.
Spend time with local families in the Andes in a Basic accommodation allows for an enriching cultural experience and the valuable opportunity to practice Spanish! You will have your own private room, with water and three meals a day provided. in most occasions bedrooms have to be shared. The food is very typical of the area, being varied and including meats and plenty of vegetables and fruits. Vegetarians are also well catered for.
You will be invited to participate in their daily activities, helping to take care of livestock or farming the fields. We offer you the opportunity for an in-depth experience of the indigenous side of Ecuador.
US$380/month Duration of stay longer than 3 months
A US$ 1 25 application fee is required of all applicants
What to Bring
Passport, comfortable walking shoes/tennis shoes, warm clothing, windbreaker, rain ponchos in winter months, hat or cap, plastic water bottle, sun-block, sunglasses, waterproof small backpack, camera with high and low speed film, cash or travellers checks.
VOLUNTEERS: AMAZON
The Rio Arajuno Volunteer/Student Internship Program is run by local Ecuadorians and the Arajuno Jungle Lodge (AJL) staff. Volunteer/Interns work at both the Arajuno Jungle Lodge Forest Reserve and in any of the many local indigenous communities. Volunteer/Intern work is coordinated by AJL staff and local community members. A Peace Corps volunteer is assigned to San Pedro, a community near AJL, and works closely with AJL Volunteer/Interns to serve as a liaison with the local communities and to coordinate the various conservation and sustainable economic development projects. We aim to provide the best experience for both parties involved to ensure a productive and worthy placement.
Volunteers’ Extension Include:
Three home made meals
Lodging at Arajuno Jungle Lodge
A certificate at the end of your Volunteer/Intern period |
Why volunteer/intern?
Volunteer/intern work is a way for you to do incredible things in another country and another culture. You get the opportunity to learn Spanish, gain valuable skills and experience and provide service to poor indigenous communities that need your help. It's a reciprocal process that benefits both you and your community. By such an interchange, you take part in improving the world by making friendships across boarders and by emphasizing values such as tolerance and peace as well as helping others to help themselves.We can guarantee that you will leave Ecuador having made new friends for life and a positive contribution towards sustainable development and conservation efforts.
Cost
Arajuno Jungle Lodge relies 100% on donations and financing from its own ecotourism program to enable conservation work to continue. In order to provide your food and lodging and other expenses, we must charge a nominal fee to Volunteer/Interns who come to help the local communities that are basically poor and can provide no material support.
The rate is as follows:
US$ $140/week, $20/per day
These prices include food and lodging. Depending on the amount of tourists, scientists and Volunteer/Interns at AJL, each Volunteer/Intern may get his or her own bedroom; nevertheless, in most situations bedrooms have to be shared.
A US $25 application fee is required of all applicants
Additional Local Agency Payment 150,00Usd
volunteer at Mindo Rian Forest
Volunteers are people willing to give and to receive. They must be eager to learn about a new environment and culture and want to help preserve this unique piece of cloud forest. They must have a desire to lend a hand in protecting biodiversity in a highly endangered tropical Andean habitat within two of the world's top five "biodiversity hotspots". We believe some qualities are a must for working as a volunteer at Mindo, for instance: honesty and ability to work with a group or as an individual, flexibility, initiative, creativity, responsibility, kindness, love for nature and interest in conservation and community development efforts.
Lodging and Food
When you start your volunteer work, you will most likely be staying at a specific project location where volunteer housing areas are available if you stay at properties of the Maquipucuna Reserve. There, Maquipucuna will provide sheets, blankets and towels; however if you prefer to have extra bath and hand towels you may want to bring some of your own. Generally, the provided rooms have two bunk beds where up to four people can sleep. Some projects will require that you stay at a community hostel, or family home; there the arrangement will vary according to what the community has to offer. In any case, Fundacion will help you negotiate a clean and safe stay.
Food will depend on where you are stationed. In case of vegetarian or lactose free needs, you need to let us know to help you make the best arrangements.
Financing
Considering that we rely on external funds and donations to enable conservation work to continue, and that we have to cover food and other expenses, we are forced to charge a nominal fee to volunteers who come to work at the Reserve or at the mentioned communities. We will arrange low-cost housing and high standard meals for you at tha different sites. The rate is as follows:
US$ 450/month ( Duration of stay less than 3 months
US$360/month (Duration of stay longer than 3 months
This price includes accommodation and three meals per day. Depending on the amount of tourists, scientists and volunteers at the Reserve, each volunteer may get their own bedroom; nevertheless, in most occasions bedrooms have to be shared.
A US$ 1 25 application fee is required of all applicants
Fees for these expenses will be paid directly to the Foundation on the first date of the first month, and are nonrefundable.
General schedule
Volunteers will work five days a week and will usually have weekends off. Nevertheless, this will depend on the characteristics of the volunteer work. The individual and group schedules will be designed and agreed upon together with each volunteer and his/her coordinator.
Volunteers are always able to get involved to some extent with other projects during free time, weekends or when their schedule is not so tight.
Project Coordination
There will be a bilingual volunteer coordinator to help you interact with your supervisor, the staff and any logistical needs. If you are assigned to a project that requires you to live at the Reserve, a "buddy" will be assigned to you for your first day. This is meant to help you get acquainted with your new surroundings.
A working plan will be agreed upon before your arrival to Ecuador or to Maquipucuna if you are already in the country. Your day to day activities will be established with your supervisor. You and your supervisor should communicate at least once a week to insure the project is running smoothly.
You will be asked to fill out an evaluation form of your experience at the end of your stay. Depending on your project, a final report may also be required before your volunteer experience is over.
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